DCF in Tbilisi with my Ukrainian wife (exceptional circumstance)

[powerpuff 6,697]

I have read posts where applicants asked for passports back to travel. The consulate will request it when they’re ready to issue the visa. It might cause a small delay as opposed to if they already had it in possession.

[Boiler 45,499]

Did you not relocate to the US?

[Rukavetchka 0]

35 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Did you not relocate to the US?

Yes, I did relocate. I’ve started my new job, bought a car, etc. however, I don’t want to stay separate from my wife.
 

We want to plan a trip together in December, somewhere in Europe.  

[Rukavetchka 0]

58 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

I have read posts where applicants asked for passports back to travel. The consulate will request it when they’re ready to issue the visa. It might cause a small delay as opposed to if they already had it in possession.

Thanks! We will plan a trip together for December, and if the dates are getting close without any visa being issued, we will probably request her passport back. My boss is really understanding of our situation luckily. 

[Rukavetchka 0]

My wife is going to ask for her passport back on Friday, this will be 92 days since the interview. 
 

does anyone have any recommendations for wording of this request, to make sure it’s clear we are NOT withdrawing our application? I don’t trust the folks at us travel docs to manage the communication if it’s not explicit.

[Rukavetchka 0]

Update: I decided to take a chance before requesting the passport to be returned. Since we did DCF, at one point I was given a personal (work) email of one of the consular officers, to whom I should CC when we write to schedule the interview. 

I would generally consider it unprofessional to contact any personal email for any reason unless requested to do so, but I decided now it can't hurt to try. 

I wrote to this email and simply asked if there was a problem, we did everything they asked and the status still says ready for interview. Within hours the case was 'updated' (meaning viewed) and within the same day, the visa status changed to ISSUED!

Now, it's fairly obvious what happened in my opinion. We WERE NOT in administrative processing. They either misplaced our file or forgot to follow up when they received the documents in the mail. Literally what people fear (our application is lost, they forgot about us) was the situation, I believe. 

I'm frustrated. If I hadn't chosen to act a bit unprofessionally, we could have been waiting in limbo nearly indefinitely or at least until we had a lawyer to start working the case after the 180 days ended. Of course, I'm also relieved.  

Well, that's another story to give people anxiety attacks when they read the forums! But I'm glad it's over!